Is there a reason that I can't think of...
 

...I can't use the BACK of a fabric?

I found a perfect off-white today for 2 1/2 inch strips and backing...$15.00 a metre! Then, I found the same colour on another fabric that had a tiny white pattern on it, but when you turn it over, you can barely see the white pattern at all...on clearance for $5.00 a metre.

I bought the $5.00 fabric so I'm really hoping there's no reason I can't use the "wrong" side!


Watson

I use the backs of fabrics all the time!!!

You pay for both sides. LOL

Happens all the time with me. Nothing at all wrong with it in my book.

There's no reason why you can't use the "wrong" side of the fabric. Sometimes the wrong side is the right side for a project!

I have used the back of fabric. Several times. :) I just never told anyone...

Dina

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*** Go for it.
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i use the back and front. the background of my avatar is the fronts and backs so the shading of the background 'flows'

I use the back side of fabric even when I am trying NOT too. And then I have to un-sew and hopefully not re-cut.

I use the side of my fabric that is best for my project-- lesson learned from my nephew 15 years ago. We pay for both sides---there is no such thing as a *Wrong* side, that's like saying my left hand is wrong because I'm right handed.... Plenty of time that left hand sure works. :)

I use the back of fabrics when I use to do watercolor quilt. I may even use the back on this quilt I am gathering fabric for. No one is going to notice.

Once it's quilted who is going to know unless you tell them? Then again, so many quilters are like 2 year olds -- we tell on ourselves. What's up with that?

I was given a huge bolt of dark brown fabric with a tiny little white flower which to me looked dated and didn't "go" with anything. The back of the fabric was a lovely plain chocolately brown. I used the back side and it worked beautifully in my quilt of autumn colours and no one was the wiser!

Like everyone else said, you can use whatever side you want. BUT, just so there are not surprises later, I would make a sample, using the batting you are going to use and see if the print shows thru, before you do a lot of piecing, etc. I have found that some prints show up stronger depending on the batting behind them. (It especially makes a difference between natural W&N, and white W&N.) So although you do not see the print when looking at the backside, it might show up once everything is put together. It happened to a friend of mine, and she was very disappointed with the outcome, after all the work she had done. Hope it works out for you!

Happy New Year to all !!

Thanks, all!

I'll do that, yngldy! Good tip.

Watson

it's your quilt, do what you want. and like others have said, you pay for both sides.

If I said you couldn't do it, would that stop you? (said with a smile)

Go for it! Lots of reasons but best one is " it is yours!"

I've done that & found the exact shade I was looking for.

Just think of it as *the other right side*

No reason why you shouldn't use the back. Only I would be careful mixing front and back in some cases.

I made a project that was just a gift. It was really my first attempt at making a quilt. but to me, a quilt is not a quilt without batting in the middle. Back then, I didn't know what batting was. Anyway, I used the back of fabric one time. I needed a pale piece of fabric and the red I had was just too dark. So I flipped it over and it was just fine. The name of the project was "From Sea to Shining Sea.". So, I think it's ok to use the back of the fabric every once in a while. There's no real rules when it comes to quilting.

Let me check the law book. Uh....no problem!

sandy

I recently took a class where the instructor encouraged us to use the "wrong side" to give a lighter contrast to the fabric in the pattern... before that, I hadn't given it any thought.

Back in the day when I was doing theatrical costuming, I often used the back of the fabric because it had a nicer texture than the front. When I am piecing a quilt now, I look at the fronts and backs of my fabric to see which one gives the effect that I am seeking. I think that in the present almost anything goes with quilting. We are not limited to just 100% cotton fabrics, so why limit yourself to using only the front?

A couple of years ago we were given an ugly fabric FQ to use as an officers challenge. The back was a pretty greenish color. We had to use at least half of it in our project. I made a wall hanging using it and used mostly the back. At first they said I did't have enough of the ugly fabric in my project. Then I won first place for my project, partly for finding a unique way to use it.
Remember the only restriction on your projects is what your imagination can come up with. DO what you want, there aren't any rules! Use different things, it is how new ideas are created. Break the rules!

Many times I am given scraps that others are throwing away. Sometimes there are pieces that have metallic parts. Since that just doesn't go with a scrappy quilt (unless I would have a huge amount of it), I use the back side of that.

The "right side" is the side you like the best!

I also use the backs all the time! Some times I use both the back and the front in the same pattern when I want a "lighter" color that matches - in fact I'm doing that on the quilt I'm making right now!

Sometimes the wrong side is the very shade I am looking for. I use it and you know what? No one knows but me.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON not to use the "wrong" side, there are no quilt police. However, on a personal note, I bought fabric for a border for a family reunion quilt; when I went to sew it on, I noticed that the back of the fabric better fit the colors in the quilt, so I used it. After all you buy both sides of the fabric, that means you can use both sides, or either side. LOL I'd have bought the $5 fabric, as that was too good a deal to pass up, plus you can use it, either way. Beautiful horse by the way.

I have used the back several times. No one can tell you not to. Go ahead.

I agree and I am left handed, but use my right for certain things. :)

I forget which quilt teacher said this to a class I took...."You paid for both sides of the fabric, so use the side you want". How true. I often use both sides of my fabric depending on the project. I find that the "wrong" side of fabric is sometimes "softer" tones.

The right side of fabric is the side you like the best :)

One time I bought several yards of some lovely fabric and when I got home discovered that the other side had lots of metallic gold on it. Didn't like that side nearly as well. Have since used both sides in different projects. But really do still like the side that caught my eye in the first place. Also don't have as much occasion to use the metallic gold.

Yeah. Use the back and don't tell, and we won't tell. I have used the back of fabric,it fit in my scenery quilt. If it fits wear it! As they say.

Both sides cost the same....I use the other side of fabrics quite often. My Client came yesterday and needed a cream colored back....she didn't like the tone on tone, we turned to the other side and she loved it! Enjoy both sides of your fabric , it adds yet another tool in your tool box!!!

When you are the artist - you can do anything that you want to do.

I often joke that quilters get twice the fabric because we often look at the back to see if it can be used!